hav(h)arot

Live-electronics computer interface / work, inspired by analogue tape composition techniques and by granular synthesis processing.

I use the interface to process sampled audio, and in particular voice material, thus putting the focus of this work on speech and on language. The interface allows me to cut sampled sentences and words into syllables, consonants and vowels, and even smaller speech particles on the verge of our sonic perception. The result is a continuous interplay between semantic content – “meaning” – and sonic experience.

I wanted to create an interface that will allow me to work with politically charged material: news and media reports, politician’s speeches, current affairs, etc. Sound bites of a world that needs mending, collected from social media channels – our digital town square or modern public space, and a highly polarised political and ideological echo chamber. Taking the original material out of its context provides an opportunity to re-examine and deconstruct it with fresh ears. This is indicated by the title hav(h)arot, meaning (in Hebrew) both syllables (havarot, הברות) and clarifications (hav’harot, הבהרות).